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Cell and Molecular Biology. BIOL360 (3) CRN 33918, 34012

Course Syllabus

Leonardo da Vinci. The Vitruvian Man (drawing circa 1490)

Gallerie dell'Accademia, in Venice, Italy.

Andrej Podlutsky

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Spring Semester 2020

Classes: Tuesday & Thursday, Murie Auditorium

11:30 – 1:00 pm

Course covers current knowledge of cellular and molecular biology: cell chemistry,

transcription, translation, cell architecture, metabolism, signal transduction pathways, DNA

repair and genome stability, cell division, and the cell cycle.

Version: 11/11/2020

This syllabus is subject to change

Course syllabus*, content and format are modified from earlier offerings of Biology 360.

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Syllabus: BIOL360 Cell and Molecular Biology CRN 33141, CRN 33260 3 Credits Prerequisites: BIOL F260; CHEM F105X; CHEM F106X or concurrent enrollment. Lectures are: synchronous Tuesday & Thursday, 11:30 am – 1 pm, Topic: BIOL360-2021 Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system. Weekly: https://alaska.zoom.us/meeting/tZYvcu2orzgsG9btVFdl5_IOtosn3h56BQEe/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqrD4uGtWWthiFRpwQAI_4LPTzmHZdjfpfiCnDBywGXSrZIu1RPOF3RY7y Join Zoom Meeting https://alaska.zoom.us/j/82254013612?pwd=RXBDTTgya2ZqaW9rZG5KdGV5eUtHdz09 Meeting ID: 822 5401 3612 Passcode: 722181 IMPORTANT! ALL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE a TURNING POINT ACCOUNT (VIRTUAL CLICKER) Instructors: Lecturer: Dr. Andrej Podlutsky (faculty IAB-CANHR) e-mail: apodlutsky@alaska.edu Office location/hrs: AHRB 2W04/Wed 10-12 or by appointment

Required Textbook: “Essential Cell Biology” [5th (preferable) or 4rd edition] By Alberts et al. Garland Publishing. TurningPoint® Clicker:

In order to register your new clicker: go to the course site in BlackBoard and click “Tools” and then “Turning Technologies Registration Tool”. Enter the 6-digit/letter Device ID, found just under the bar code. Note: if you already have a TurningPoint clicker linked to your student ID in BlackBoard, it should automatically be registered for the BIOL360 class. Make sure that it is the correct Device ID!

Course description: This course will provide an introduction to cell biology and will cover the

following topics: cell chemistry, transcription, translation, cell architecture, metabolism, signal

transduction pathways, cell division, and the cell cycle. Students will also learn current molecular

biological techniques that are used to study these topics in the laboratory.

Course goals: Students will gain knowledge of cell structure and function, learn techniques commonly

used in cell biology, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and gain insight to the cellular and molecular

basis of disease.

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Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will gain knowledge of cellular and molecular processes, learn techniques commonly used in

biology research, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and gain insight into the cellular and molecular

mechanisms present in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Students will be able to:

- read and understand current literature on topics of cellular and molecular biology;

- understand mechanisms of cellular communication within multicellular organisms;

- comprehend contemporary theories of evolution and origin of life;

- understand how cells obtain and utilize energy;

- understand difference between mitosis and meiosis;

- understand scientific approach to study gene expression and cellular communication processes;

- gain knowledge on genome instability and cancerous transformation;

- understand importance of genetic mutations and cellular senescence;

- gain experience in communicating science through discussions and exams.

Instructional methods: This course will be taught through a combination of lectures, group problem

solving, brainstorming, and discussions.

Policies: Students are expected to attend lectures. Classes will start and end on time; you are expected

to be on time. While there is no numerical penalty for missing class lectures, I will be taking note of

absence. I have noticed a strong correlation between classes missed by a student and their grade. You

are responsible for any material covered if absent from class regardless of the reason. Notes must

be obtained from classmates. Exams will be based on material covered in both the lecture and your

reading and account for a significant portion of your grade. Thus, missing classes will undoubtedly

have a negative impact on your performance in this course.

I will be more than happy to help clarify material missed during any absence, but it must be during my

office hours or another time outside of class that is convenient for both of us and you must be prepared

(you must have read and thought about the material before meeting with me).

Electronic devices: please refrain from using any device in the class that might disrupt the lecture or

your colleagues. This includes, but not limited to: cell phones, pagers, PDA, iPods (you get the idea).

Exams: Exams will be based on material covered in both the lecture and textbook. You are expected

to take all exams at the scheduled time. Check the schedule carefully and plan your appointments and

travel around the course schedule. In particular, make sure you schedule your travel plans for break

after the final exam. I will not grant requests for early finals to accommodate early travel. Exams will

contain multiple choice and short answer items.

Scheduled absences: For absences caused by conflict with a University-sanctioned activity

(e.g., participation in a competition as a UAF athlete), you must notify me in advance of the exam. You

will be expected to take the exam before your absence. Other types of scheduled absence are generally

not accepted; you are expected to schedule around the exams.

Unscheduled (emergency) absences: If an emergency arises (ie: family death, medical

emergency) the day of the exam that makes you unable to attend the exam, you must inform me before

the start of the exam by e-mail or phone (leave a message if you can’t reach me). You must take a

make-up exam within 48 hours of the scheduled exam. It is your responsibility to schedule the make-

up. If not taken within 48 hours, the exam will be recorded as a zero. You should expect to provide

documentation of the emergency. Make-up exam are not guaranteed; they are granted at the instructor’s

discretion.

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Blackboard: Slides used in lecture will be posted on Blackboard after the lecture. Please do not use

these as a substitute for taking notes. The slides will contain mostly figures, illustrating many of the

complex processes we will be discussing during class. I use minimal text on slides and strongly

encourage you to take notes to enhance your understanding and learning of the material. Note taking is

a skill that requires practice to master, and is essential for learning.

I also use Blackboard to post announcements, exam and homework, and any other interesting tidbits.

Please check out the BB site on a regular basis. I also use the UAF email accounts to contact students.

Please check your UAF account on regular basis. If you use an alternate account, please have your UAF

mail forwarded to that account.

Email Etiquette: I will do my best to respond to your email inquiries within 24 hrs. Please be

considerate in your letters and use proper English grammar. Think before you send and never write

anything you would feel uncomfortable saying to me (or anyone else!) in person. Please sign your

letter; addresses don’t always reveal the identity of the writer. I normally do not accept assignment via

email.

Disabilities: I will work with the Office of Disabilities Service (203 WHIT, 474-7043) to provide

accommodations in both the classroom and laboratory to provide equal access to all materials in this

course to all students.

Grading: Your final grades will be based on the following:

(1) Exams (450 points): There will be four exams during the semester, one of which is the final

exam. Each exam will count for 100 points (final exam 150 points total). The final exam will

be 50% new material and 50% cumulative material. The questions at the end of each chapter

are an excellent study guide. I strongly suggest that you test yourself with these questions after

reading each chapter. Up to twenty points from each exam might be in the form of take-home

questions in which you apply the knowledge you learn in class to solve problems. Exam policy

– open notebook (with hand-written notes and illustrations) and your brain; final exam – just

you and your powerful brain.

(2) Lecture and class participation points (clickers): active attendance of lecture is strongly

recommended and encouraged. BIOL360 uses an active learning tool, clickers to pose questions

to the class and evaluate student understanding. Clicker responses help instructor tell whether

students are “getting it”, and are also used to assess class participation. Credits will be given

simply for participating, and these points are an easy way to boost your grade (50 point, ~7.4%

of total). However, giving your clicker to another student to use in your absence is

considered academic fraud and will result in disciplinary action for both students. If you

must miss class for university-sanctioned events, an illness (you or a dependent), or family

emergency, please notify the instructor of the date and reason. Everyone will be granted 2

excused absences for personal reason. You will need to bring your clicker to every lecture, and

it is your responsibility to ensure that clicker is operating properly.

(3) Quizzes (180 points): during the course, almost each Tuesday, we will have a quiz before the

lecture. You will need to read whole chapter (sometimes, only part of the chapter) to do

reasonably well during the quiz. You will be using your clicker (should register before the class)

during the quiz.

BONUS: to earn extra points (maximum – 25 points) you will need to choose some exciting topic

in “cell and molecular biology” and make a presentation for the whole class. Also, you will

summarize your presentation in a two-page report (single spaced, including reference list). The

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topic should be interesting to everyone in the class; you could present your own research, but in a

very illuminating way. Presentation length – 5-7 minutes, 6-7 slides. Bonus points will be added to

the total sum before the final grade is calculated. If you decide to earn the bonus points, please send

me an e-mail indicating the title of your presentation before February 9. I will make a schedule of

all presenting students, and inform you about the date of your presentation (at least two weeks in

advance).

In summary, your grade will be based on the following:

Component Points % of grade

Exams (3 at 100 pts each)

Final Exam (new + cumulative)

Quizzes (12 at 15 pts each)

300

150

180

48%

24%

28%

Σ Total 630 100%

Grades: A= 90–100%, B= 80–90%, C= 70–80%, D= 60–70% and F< 60%.

Secrets to success: We will cover a large amount of material during this semester. Some of it may be

familiar to you, but many topics will be new. There are few techniques you can use to help you to

succeed in this course.

1) Read the book before coming to lecture. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the

material before I cover it. Also, if you have questions about what you read, you can ask during

the lecture. Please, please, never be afraid to ask a question. Undoubtedly there is someone else

in the room wondering the same thing, and it will help everyone if I have an opportunity to

explain something in a slightly different way, or clarify a point.

2) Take notes during class. This is an excellent way to reinforce your learning of the material.

Although I will post slides on Blackboard after the lecture, I will discuss the material in much

more detail than is on the slide and you will be responsible for this material on the exam.

3) Review your notes shortly after lecture, and ask me again if something is unclear, or fill in

missing pieces with information from the text. Also (number 3.5), as I stated above, test yourself

by answering the questions at the end of the text.

4) Quiz yourself****. Use questions at the end of each chapter to test your understanding of the

material. These questions are a GREAT way to study!!!

Most of all, do not procrastinate! There is no way you can do well on an exam in this course by

waiting until the night before the exam to study.

* Acknowledgement:

This syllabus was developed with the help of Drs. Michael Harris, Kristin O’Brien,

Diane O’Brien and Karsten Hueffer of UAF, their contribution is greatly appreciated.

Any errors/mistakes, however, are sole responsibility of Andrej Podlutsky.

A document “What is Plagiarism” is placed on BlackBoard (Document provided by Turnitin.com and Research Resources. Turnitin allows free distribution and non-profit use of this document in educational settings.)

Version: 01/05/2021

This syllabus is subject to change

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Date Lecture Exam Book Chapter

Jan-12 Tu 1 Introduction to Cell Ch 1

Jan-14 2 Introduction and Cell Chemistry Ch 2

Jan-19 Tu Q1 3 Energy Ch 3

Jan-21 4 Proteins Ch 4

Jan-27 Tu Q2 5 DNA and Chromosomes Ch 5

Jan-29 6 DNA Replication and Repair - I Ch 6

Feb-02 Tu Q3 7 DNA Replication and Repair - II Ch 6

Feb-04 Exam 1

Feb-9 Tu Q4 8 Control of Gene Expression Ch 8

Feb-11 9 Genes and Genomes Ch 9

Feb-16 Tu Q5 10 From DNA to protein Ch 7

Feb-18 11 Modern DNA technology Ch 10

Feb-23 Tu Q6 12 Membrane Structure & Transport Ch 11 & 12

Feb-25 13 Metabolism Ch 13

Mar-02 TuQ7 14 Mitochondria Ch 14

Mar-04 Exam 2

Mar-9 - - Spring break - -

Mar-11 - - Spring break - -

Mar-16 tu Q8 15 Protein Transport Ch 15

Mar-18 16 Cell Communication Ch 16

Mar-23 TuQ9 17 Cytoskeleton Ch 17

Mar-25 18 Cell Division Ch 18

Mar-30 TuQ10

19 Benefits of Sex Ch 19

Apr-01 20 Cell Cycle Ch 18

Apr-06

Tu Q11

21 Cancer Ch 20

Apr-08 22 Aging Lecture

Apr-13 Q12 23 Aging II & Cancer Lecture

Apr-15 Exam 3

Apr-20 24 Cancer-treatment

Apr-22 25 Exam-review questions

April-29

Tuesday

10:15 am – 12:15 pm Final Exam!

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Following section is taken from the UAF web-site:

http://uaf.edu/usa/student-resources/conduct/#condu

Student Code of Conduct (BOR POLICY 09.02.02)

A. As with all members of the university community, the university requires students to conduct themselves honestly and responsibly and to respect the rights of others. Students may not engage in behavior that disrupts the learning environment, violates the rights of others or otherwise violates the Student Code of Conduct (Code), university rules, regulations, or procedures. Students and student organizations will be responsible for ensuring that they and their guests comply with the Code while on property owned or controlled by the university or at activities authorized or sponsored by the university.

B. The university may initiate disciplinary action and impose sanctions on any student or student organization found responsible for committing, attempting to commit, or intentionally assisting in the commission of any of the following prohibited forms of conduct:

1. cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty; 2. forgery, falsification, alteration, or misuse of documents, funds, property or

electronic records; 3. damage or destruction of property; 4. theft of property or services; 5. harassment; 6. discrimination; 7. hazing; 8. endangerment, assault, or infliction of physical harm; 9. gender-based or sexual misconduct; 10. disruptive or obstructive actions; 11. mistreatment of animals; 12. misuse of firearms, explosives, weapons, dangerous devices, or dangerous

chemicals; 13. failure to comply with university directives; 14. misuse of alcohol; 15. misuse of drugs or other intoxicants; 16. violation of regents’ policy, university regulation, rules, or procedures; or 17. any other actions that result in unreasonable interference with the learning

environment or the rights of others. C. Examples of actions that constitute these prohibitions will be described in the university

regulation and MAU rules and procedures. D. This policy and university regulation and MAU rules and procedures are not intended to

define prohibited conduct in exhaustive terms, but rather to set forth examples to serve as guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

The university has established procedures for enforcing the UA code of conduct. Each student at the university shall be

afforded due process in all disciplinary matters. For a complete guide to these procedures, please refer to Board of

Regents Policy and University Regulation 09.02 (PDF).